Seasonal sense

The most important thing to do when sub zero temperatures are forecast is to buy some rock salt and spread it over the yard so that neither you nor your horse can slip over.

Then it’s time to prioritise jobs and have a set order of doing things and stick to it so that smaller jobs can always be left to another day when you have more time.

Buy five or six hay nets and fill all of them so that they can be stored ready for use. To save time sweeping the yard take your horse out of his stable before mucking out and push the wheelbarrow all the way in. Then place an old blanket on top to move from the stable to the muck heap without making a mess in the yard.

But remember to pick out your horse’s feet before bringing him out of the stable so the droppings don’t land in the concrete.

Deep litter your horse’s bed during the week and take all the wet out once a week, disinfect the floor and leave it to dry.

Builder’s merchant sacks are ideal containers for dirty bedding as they are strong and durable.

Once filled, the corners can be tied and the bag can be moved to the muckheap.

Attach some baling twine, or a piece of brightly-coloured ribbon, to a hoofpick and place it on a hook outside your stable door.

This way you will always be able to locate your hoofpick when you need it.

Use a cotton summer sheet under your horse’s stable rug to protect it from grease and dirt. A cotton sheet is easier to wash and dry than a thick quilted rug.

If your horse needs his hay soaked, consider feeding haylage for the winter months, as it doesn't need soaking.

Make up all your weekly feeds at once and store them individually in clean, rodent-proof containers with lids.

Each feed can then be emptied into your horse’s bucket or manger, dampened if necessary and fed to your horse.

Get together with another horse owner and draw up a rota to turn out and bring in for each other on set days. You will then be able to take it in turns to have the occasional evening or morning off.

Keep a head collar and torch in your car, you can then go straight to the field without having to go to the yard first. A torch is also invaluable for investigating wounds and other injuries when artificial light casts shadows.

Keep your horse clean and warm by investing in a hood or neck cover.

Invest in a hose to bring your water to wherever you need it rather an trying to struggle unnecessarily up and down the yard with those heavy water buckets.

Invest in a set of overalls to wear over your daytime clothes.

This will save time changing or going home.

A small plastic football floating in your horse’s field trough or a small plastic ball floating in his water bucket stops water freezing over and allows access to fresh water in all but the coldest of weather.

Buy a household duvet and duvet cover, use it under a stable rug in place of multiple quilted rugs. They are cheaper to buy and the cover is easily washed.